Casper Grandmother Denies Endangering Child With Methamphetamine

A woman accused of using methamphetamine in an apartment where a three-year-old child was staying denied the charges brought against her Tuesday in Natrona County District Court.

Tina Larie Baker, 44, pleaded not guilty to one felony count of endangering a child with methamphetamine and one misdemeanor count of methamphetamine possession. She could face up to six years behind bars and over $6,000 in fines if convicted on both counts.

Court documents say Casper police officers went to Baker's home in the Foxhill Apartments on Dec. 28 to conduct a welfare check on the child after learning Baker was taking care of the child and possibly using drugs.

Officers arrived and spent nearly two hours trying to reach Baker before she answered the door at about 10:15 a.m., according to the affidavit.

Baker appeared to have just gotten out of bed. She was reportedly rubbing her eyes, wearing pajamas, wrapped in a blanket and speaking hesitantly.

Officers found the child in one of the apartment's bedroom.

Three probation officers also responded to Baker's apartment, as she was on probation but had not reported as scheduled in December.

Baker reportedly told officers she thought there was a meth pipe in her bedroom in a black case.

Officers brought in a drug dog, which indicated on a small flowery case and two black ash trays. The case allegedly contained a methamphetamine pipe, while the ash trays contained methamphetamine residue.

Department of Family Services workers arrived and took custody of the child. They also said they would have the child medically checked, as Baker had said the child vomited the previous evening and had "bad" diarrhea that morning.

Plans were also made to have a hair follicle test done on the child to check for methamphetamine in the child's system.

Baker was arrested. She was released Jan. 7 on $7,500 bond, but has since been arrested by Converse County authorities for probation revocation.